Twas The Night Before Christmas (old Puppetoon)

I love these old puppetoons. This rarely seen film is in Glorious Black & White

[@GregDrayGregDray]

I haven't seen this since the 1960's It is bittersweet in that my Parents are both gone now and the memories of surprise and excitement of Christmas in those better years are tarnished with no one to share them with. What a precious memory of Christmas Past!

[@BlackAdder1970]

I feel EXACTLY the same way.

[@davidhall5520]

I was born in 1965..i remember watching this in grade school..i was watching rudolph and something reminded me of this film...im so tickled i found this..thanks for the bringing back fond memories..

[@PixSmith01]

The creators of this film were Mabel and Les Beaton, accomplished amateur (really!) puppeteers who started many a person on the road to marionettes. The rights to this were given by her to a friend of mine, and when he passed away, the rights to her work and this film transferred to me as a part of his estate. I am happy that you have posted it here, and am happy to give permission for you to to do so. One of your other commenters is correct, this was half of a two part production, the other being the story of the nativity. I have the masters for that film, and this one, and it's beautiful. They also made several other Biblical films, and there are very few copies of those around. Thanks for sharing this, and for making it available. The only this I would ask is that you add "created by Mabel and Les Beaton, Stringtime Productions, used with permission " to the description. Puppetoons were an entirely different production company. Thanks again!

[@TralfazConstruction]

The local PBS station, WHYY out of Philadelphia, PA, brought this back in the '90s. I don't know if they are still showing it. WHYY, Channel 12, also used to show Scrooge/A Christmas Carol (1951) at midnight on Christmas Eve. There were a few years when most of the family would gather 'round and watch it together. I enjoyed both halves of the marionette presentation. The Nativity and The Night Before Christmas is engrained in memory having watched it in childhood and then seeing the revival on Channel 12, WHYY. Those were some fine times.

[@elisagriffith7524]

@@TralfazConstruction back in 80s my mom was 1 of many people that sponcered PBS and we got to watch the Mabel Beatan (spelling 🙏) marionettes we so loved as children. Gene London has them on his show. Davey and Goliath another ❤️ favorite. Thanks so much ❤️❤️ happy holidays 😀❤️

[@TralfazConstruction]

@@elisagriffith7524 That is wonderful. Happy Holidays to you as well! 😃

[@rmadara]

I watched this throughout the 60s in Philly. I have the DVD. It is usually broadcast every year by WHYY-12 in Philly.

[@rmadara]

@@TralfazConstruction it was on channel 12 a couple nights ago

[@gjwolf100]

When I was in grade school, every Christmas time, we all went into the gym and watched this. That was early 60’s.

[@studiowucc99.9fm6]

Me Too! it was great!

[@annmcneal7804]

Same

[@aaronrbrundidge]

This black and white sure has a lot of color to it. Still enjoyable though.

[@dzedo53]

This was usually paired with a "puppet" version of the birth of Jesus. I'm sure wouldn't be allowed on today's TV.

[@shawneldridge4465]

Actually PBS use to play this for years then when all the streaming and downloading came along that's when they stopped, which is a shame they need to pull the Christmas stuff back on television during the holidays.

[@rmadara]

what a stupid remark

[@sethtanner5707]

Back when we only had 3-4 tv channels to choose from , when we saw this, we knew that Christmas was nigh.

[@lynettewerner3559]

Still love this,looked forward to it every year when I was a child, I’m now 75!

[@fancyworldf2598]

2019 anyone or is it just me 😍😍😍😂😂

[@sk8terjoe98]

Watched this as a kid since my father played it every year. Loved this and still do.

[@zmanproductionsthepuppetan4607]

To me you can never outgrow the whole Santa claus 🎅 🤶 thing

[@48CHORD]

Wow I'm back in grade school again, This was always shown the last day before Christmas vacation.. what a great feeling to see this 45 years later.

[@kingwolfster]

Hi. This isn't a George Pal Puppetoon. In fact,there doesn't seem to be any model animation in this - seems to be a marionette film. Interesting!

[@rmadara]

"puppetoon"??? Are you nuts???? It's the Beaton marionettes in the Bell Telephone special The Spirit Of Christmas from the 50s

[@debbiededdo2412]

Oh my. What a memory jolt. Only Christmas show that we ever watched. Thanks for the memories.

[@musimages23]

mabel beaton marionnettes

[@michaelwolford6207]

Always looked forward to seeing this in elementary school.

[@willec7105]

Like the others here, this was shown on TV during the early '60's in our case in Pennsylvania. It was sponsored by Bell Telephone and the show also included the puppetoon of the Nativity. It was an annual tradition.

[@cruisetheautisticboy994]

R.I.P Alexander Scourby

[@jimmysnyder1]

I watched this every year in elementary school. There is a wiki article on it. The_Spirit_of_Christmas_(TV_program)

[@zmanproductionsthepuppetan4607]

There's definitely a Santa claus 🎅 🤶.

[@RabidWolf1966]

MA in her kerchief, not MAMA Settled DOWN, not settled OUR BRAINS who the hell has EVER "settled their brains"? calming down, and getting ready for bed is settling down

[@PixSmith01]

It actually is "settled our brains" in one of Clement Moore's handwritten copies of the poem. There are a lot of different versions out there, none of them incorrect

[@28mark]

Easy Shane, easy...it's a puppet show for Christmas meant for enjoyment.

[@jamesdanton726]

I would like to see the original the way I remember it

[@zyxmyk]

I really appreciate this being on here! I saw this as a small child and it's still the only version that feels right. Alexander Scourby, I think. Thanks!

[@markthomas9769]

Surest way to date renditions of this poem: Before the Johnny Marks song the 7th reindeer is called Donder; after song he's Donner.

[@JohnnyKennedy-sf4sf]

Saint Nicholas archbishop of Myra turkey 270-343 age 73 years old rest in peace amen 🇻🇪🇻🇦🇺🇸🇹🇳🇷🇴🇲🇽🇲🇬🇯🇵🇮🇹🇮🇱🇮🇳🇩🇪🇫🇷🇬🇧🇪🇬🇨🇦🇧🇷🇦🇺🩴🩴🧸🍞🦍🦒🐘🦏🦙🦅🐊🦝🦊🐻‍❄️🐼🐻🐺🐯🦁

[@JohnnyKennedy-sf4sf]

Saint Nicholas archbishop of Myra turkey rest in peace amen 🇻🇪🇻🇦🇺🇸🇹🇳🇷🇴🇲🇽🇲🇬🇯🇵🇮🇹🇮🇱🇮🇳🇩🇪🇫🇷🇬🇧🇪🇬🇨🇦🇧🇷🇦🇺🩴🩴🧸🍞🦍🦒🐘🦏🦙🦅🐊🦝🦊🐻‍❄️🐼🐻🐺🐯🦁

[@JohnnyKennedy-sf4sf]

His autopsy it was ruled a massive heart attack and he was cremated and he was buried at saint Mary's cemetery in bari Italy and he was married to Katherine and had 6 dozen kids named Archie and Bentley and Sarah and woody and he was in the council of niceia and his feast day is December 6th and he was best friends with saint Adrian Deacon for 50 years and it's a true story and rest in peace saint Nicholas amen 🇻🇪🇻🇦🇺🇸🇹🇳🇷🇴🇲🇽🇲🇬🇯🇵🇮🇹🇮🇱🇮🇳🇩🇪🇫🇷🇬🇧🇪🇬🇨🇦🇧🇷🇦🇺🩴🩴🧸🍞🦍🦒🐘🦏🦙🦅🐊🦝🦊🐻‍❄️🐼🐻🐺🐯🦁

[@amberalvia1101]

Puppetoons refers to stop motion, puppets.

[@zmanproductionsthepuppetan4607]

I love this story on Christmas 🎄

[@JohnnyKennedy-sf4sf]

Saint reverend clement Moore 1779-1863 age 84 years old the Roman Catholic American bishop and chaplain evangelist missionary and theologian of Columbia University in new York City 🇺🇸 new York and the author of the night before Christmas rest in peace amen 🇻🇪🇻🇦🇺🇸🇹🇳🇷🇴🇲🇽🇲🇬🇯🇵🇮🇹🇮🇱🇮🇳🇩🇪🇫🇷🇬🇧🇪🇬🇨🇦🇧🇷🇦🇺🩴🩴🧸🍞🦍🦒🐘🦏🦙🦅🐊🦝🦊🐻‍❄️🐼🐻🐺🐯🦁

[@JohnnyKennedy-sf4sf]

Saint reverend clement Moore rest in peace amen 🇻🇪🇻🇦🇺🇸🇹🇳🇷🇴🇲🇽🇲🇬🇯🇵🇮🇹🇮🇱🇮🇳🇩🇪🇫🇷🇬🇧🇪🇬🇨🇦🇧🇷🇦🇺🩴🩴🧸🍞🦍🦒🐘🦏🦙🦅🐊🦝🦊🐻‍❄️🐼🐻🐺🐯🦁

[@JohnnyKennedy-sf4sf]

His autopsy it was ruled a massive heart attack and he was cremated and he was buried at saint Mary's cemetery in Brooklyn new York 🇺🇸 and he was married to Katherine and had three kids and he wrote the night before Christmas in New York City 🇺🇸 new York in 1822 and 6,000 copies were sold out on Christmas Day and it's a true story and rest in peace saint reverend Clement Moore amen 🇻🇪🇻🇦🇺🇸🇹🇳🇷🇴🇲🇽🇲🇬🇯🇵🇮🇹🇮🇱🇮🇳🇩🇪🇫🇷🇬🇧🇪🇬🇨🇦🇧🇷🇦🇺🩴🩴🧸🍞🦍🦒🐘🦏🦙🦅🐊🦝🦊🐻‍❄️🐼🐻🐺🐯🦁

[@JohnnyKennedy-sf4sf]

Rest in peace saint reverend Clement Moore amen 🇻🇪🇻🇦🇺🇸🇹🇳🇷🇴🇲🇽🇲🇬🇯🇵🇮🇹🇮🇱🇮🇳🇩🇪🇫🇷🇬🇧🇪🇬🇨🇦🇧🇷🇦🇺🩴🩴🧸🍞🦍🦒🐘🦏🦙🦅🐊🦝🦊🐻‍❄️🐼🐻🐺🐯🦁

[@deangerazounis4638]

Teachers would play this every Christmas time in grade school In Leetsdale Pa 1960s this and the birth of Jesus video the nativity what happened to those innocent days

[@philcentorani5911]

We did the same thing Binghamton NY in the 1960s I never thought i would ever see it again

[@norton19609]

This is available on a DVD titled The Spirit of Christmas

[@HeidiSchlatter]

I looked forward to this every year before Christmas!! So glad to see it here!!

[@RosieBillPenguin]

Thanks for sharing this video. This was a first time seeing the film. Alexander Scourby, who narrates, does his usual superb work. He could read the phone book and it would sound interesting. When he has classic text, as is the case here, he is magnificent.

[@timandrew1091]

Wow.... remember this

[@normlor8109]

it's one the few times where the proper accent is put on the second syllable of mama in her kerchief now this version ...I like

[@blutausbeherit]

my dad had an old vhs of this. I loved it as a kid cause of how hilarious the puppeteering is. Right in the nostalgia.

[@staspastukh2005]

Thanks!

[@2paketesful]

super cool

[@TrinidadPuppets]

2020 and I’m here it’s amazing the skill of these puppeteers

[@shawneldridge9476]

: } i use to watch this when it came on the pbs channel.

[@TralfazConstruction]

Brought to you by the Bell System!

[@GregDrayGregDray]

That is wonderful information! I have been looking for this! I was born in 1958 and I remembered this and had been looking for it but didn't know where it was from or what it was ! Great Comment!!

[@STB-jh7od]

I remember watching this in elementary school in 70's. As I recall, it was part of a longer show, which had live action segment acting out the history of the writing of this poem. I loved watching this as a kid.

[@zyxmyk]

thanks!

[@chrisierichards8271]

These r great, were r they, bring. Them on tv,